Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A shared island dialogue was held on 16 June at Dublin City University on the role of education in connecting communities across the island of Ireland. Some 150 education, civil society and political representatives from North and South participated in the event. The dialogue considered achievements and shortcomings of educations systems in bringing communities together over the last 25 years and what a more ambitious approach would require in the years ahead. A report and video summary will be published by the Department.

Last week, the Government made some funding announcements from the shared island fund. A further €56 million has been allocated from the shared island fund to move forward with a range of substantial cross-Border investments. The major project is the commitment of €44.5 million for construction of a new teaching building at Ulster University’s campus in Derry. This will implement our commitment under the New Decade, New Approach agreement to capital investment at the campus for expanded provision of higher education in the north west. There has rightly been a long-standing demand by the people of Derry for expansion of higher education in the city and our investment contributes significantly to that goal. It will underpin the substantial and growing teaching and research co-operation between Ulster University and Atlantic Technological University in the north-west. The Government last week also announced the establishment of a new youth forum as part of the shared island initiative. This will commence in September and hear from young people across all communities on their vision and values for the future of this island. We have also made allocations from the fund for new all-island projects on the bio-economy, respite care for children diagnosed with cancer and to complete the tender for the Narrow Water Bridge.

In total, the Government has now allocated almost €250 million from the shared island fund for all-island projects. We are keen to work with the new Executive and with the British Government to deepen our North-South and east-west relationships and to bring people across this island together in a common cause.

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